South Africa: Globalization, Sports, and Development

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Explore issues of identity politics, global capital, and socioeconomic development through the lens of sports in South Africa.

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This program examines the role of sports in community, national, and global development in the culturally rich, sociologically diverse, and sport-enthused society of South Africa.
  
Based in the vibrant city of Durban, students explore global power dynamics, interracial relations, development, gender, and identity politics in relation to sports. Students will consider the experience of last year’s soccer World Cup—held for the first time on the African continent—as they consider the impacts of mega–sporting events on local communities and the environment.
 
Learn from South African scholars and local community leaders
Through lectures with in-country faculty from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and discussions with local community leaders, students consider topics such as:

• The political and social impacts of sports on different communities
• The contribution of sports to nation building and social cohesion
• Sports as a response to poverty and a contributor to development.

Read more about the program’s coursework.

Work with local community and youth organizations on sports development initiatives
Through the program’s practicum, students work with local community and youth organizations on sports development programs and initiatives thereby learning how sports shape development in urban and rural areas. The practicum could be focused on rugby, soccer, or other sports with mass popular appeal in South Africa.

Live with South African families
Students experience daily life in a South African setting while practicing their Zulu language skills during two separate homestays. The homestay experience provides a base from which students contextualize the issues they are exploring in their coursework.

Travel outside Durban through group excursions
The program incorporates numerous excursions in greater Durban and the province of KwaZulu Natal; students also spend time in Johannesburg. Additionally, the program may spend one week in the town of Grahamstown, known for its rural sports program and one of the world’s largest arts festival. Learn more about the program’s excursions